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Dragon Wishes
Alex and Isa's world has been turned upside down by their parents deaths. They've had to leave their homes in Oklahoma to live with their Uncle Norbert and Aunt Ling in San Francisco. They're both having trouble adjusting. Five-year-old Isa has stopped talking, and artistic eleven-year-old Alex can't seem to draw anything but dead trees. Alex doesn t seem to fit into her new life, and she doesn't want to. The only thing she seems to connect with is the bedtime story Aunt Ling tells each night. All Alex dreams of is going back home to Oklahoma. Will she finally realize her dream, or will she finally accept her new life?
- GenresFantasy
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 23, 2008
16 people want to read
About the author
Stacy Nyikos
7 books13 followersStacy A. Nyikos is the author of three aquatic picture books, Squirt, Shelby & Dizzy (Stonehorse), as well as a middle grade novel, Dragon Wishes (Blooming Tree Press, 2008). Her books have received numerous awards, including Winner in the Arizona Authors Literary Contest, Finalist in ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year, and Featured Picture Book of the Oklahoma Aquarium.
Stacy conducts school visits at both elementary and middle schools across the U.S., using dummy books, selected (somewhat embarrassing) early drafts of her writing, and power point presentations to teach children about story-making and sea life. In 2008, she will finally! be able to add Chinese dragons to her presentations. "
Stacy conducts school visits at both elementary and middle schools across the U.S., using dummy books, selected (somewhat embarrassing) early drafts of her writing, and power point presentations to teach children about story-making and sea life. In 2008, she will finally! be able to add Chinese dragons to her presentations. "
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 8, 2008
Alex and Isa are having trouble adjusting to their new home and family in San Francisco. It hasn’t been long since their parents’ death, or The Accident, and neither sister is coping well. Young Isa seems to be doing better than Alex, despite the fact that Isa has stopped talking; Isa is at least trying to accept her new life while all Alex wants is for life to be as it was before The Accident. She wants to go back home to Oklahoma. She doesn’t having much hope of realizing that desire until her Auntie Ling tells her a bedtime story about dragons. The story increases her belief that there is magic and that maybe she can wish her way back hoe. Along the way, Alex will realize where she truly belongs and where her home is.
Dragon Wishes starts off well, and I’m glad to say it only gets better from there. I was drawn immediately into Alex’s tale because I wanted to know how she would deal with this major change in her life and because she was such a compelling main character. Alex was very well-developed and I enjoyed reading along with her journey. The other characters were not as well-developed as I’d have liked them to be, but this is minor considering this story was primarily told from Alex’s point-of-view. I thought it was very unique for Nyikos to incorporate the Chinese dragon tale and was surprised that it didn’t really distract me from the main storyline, which I commend Nyikos for. I also really liked the mix of American, Chinese, and German cultures although I felt there could’ve been more German culture because that was Alex’s heritage. There were a few bits and pieces in the story that I felt weren’t necessary, such as Alex’s guy crush and things that could’ve been improved, like the strength of Alex’s friendship with Maddie. Nevertheless, Dragon Wishes was a well-written and moving story about family.
I was very impressed with Nyikos’ debut middle grade novel and hope she plans to write more in the future. Dragon Wishes can be enjoyed by both younger and older readers, particularly fans of books with Chinese culture or novels with dragons. Readers who liked Bringing the Boy Home by N.A. Nelson will also enjoy this story.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
Dragon Wishes starts off well, and I’m glad to say it only gets better from there. I was drawn immediately into Alex’s tale because I wanted to know how she would deal with this major change in her life and because she was such a compelling main character. Alex was very well-developed and I enjoyed reading along with her journey. The other characters were not as well-developed as I’d have liked them to be, but this is minor considering this story was primarily told from Alex’s point-of-view. I thought it was very unique for Nyikos to incorporate the Chinese dragon tale and was surprised that it didn’t really distract me from the main storyline, which I commend Nyikos for. I also really liked the mix of American, Chinese, and German cultures although I felt there could’ve been more German culture because that was Alex’s heritage. There were a few bits and pieces in the story that I felt weren’t necessary, such as Alex’s guy crush and things that could’ve been improved, like the strength of Alex’s friendship with Maddie. Nevertheless, Dragon Wishes was a well-written and moving story about family.
I was very impressed with Nyikos’ debut middle grade novel and hope she plans to write more in the future. Dragon Wishes can be enjoyed by both younger and older readers, particularly fans of books with Chinese culture or novels with dragons. Readers who liked Bringing the Boy Home by N.A. Nelson will also enjoy this story.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
March 11, 2023
This is a good chapter book for pre-teens. Enjoyed a good story and also insights into Chinese culture as well as a story to help children who have lost parents. Glad I read it and will read it to my grandsons.
September 17, 2008
Dragon Wishes is about pearls of wisdom, dragons, soccer, Chinese dumplings, migrating whales, ancestors, joining hands against adversity, reaching goals, fear, risk, desire, death and surprise. Mostly it's about leaving home only to realize that home is not a place but a circle of friends, kin and strangers who are bound together by the light, silvery web which unites us all in giving and caring. You will laugh and you will cry. You will fall in love with Alex, Isa, Maddie, and their polyglot circle of family and friends.
Belle Yang, author of Hannah is My Name
Belle Yang, author of Hannah is My Name
March 6, 2011
Nice story for kids.
I attended a reading conference last weekend where the author spoke to us and then we were all given a copy of her book at the end. I found her to be a very good speaker and even better as a writer. This book is targeted to the early teen crowd and slightly older----the age that I happen to teach. A very nice story, well-written, and with a nice blending of American, German, and Chinese cultures in the mix. A beautiful story about family and adjusting to loss within the family. Highly recommended.
I attended a reading conference last weekend where the author spoke to us and then we were all given a copy of her book at the end. I found her to be a very good speaker and even better as a writer. This book is targeted to the early teen crowd and slightly older----the age that I happen to teach. A very nice story, well-written, and with a nice blending of American, German, and Chinese cultures in the mix. A beautiful story about family and adjusting to loss within the family. Highly recommended.
Want to read
March 3, 2008Released May 2008; First time author
April 25, 2012
Well-meaning, but clumsy.
Read
February 13, 2019Preteens and teen readers alike will enjoy this story that effectively weaves individual struggle with family relationships and growing up. This is a wonderful, engaging story.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews